Ofsted has discovered Child Poverty
“If we get the early years right, we pave the way for a lifetime of achievement. If we get them wrong, we miss a unique opportunity to shape a child’s…
LEYF News and CEO Blog
Read the latest news and updates from our CEO and the wider LEYF team.
Dear Justine Greening MP
Congratulations on your appointment as Secretary of State for Education. It is quite a Brief so l hope that those of us who have been grappling with it for a…
Cleaning my teeth with Laura Henry & other surprises from a Trip to Froebel’s Birthplace
Recently, I wrote about the importance of visiting other nurseries so I was delighted when I was given a “golden ticket” by Community Playthings to visit…
Smart Nurseries Develop a Culture of Creativity
On the 10th of October it is Social Saturday and as a social enterprise, we will be celebrating. The aim of Social Saturday 2015 is to raise…
A Promise of 30 Hours Free Childcare heralds the Big Childcare Conversation
The Government made childcare a central component of its election manifesto. Mr Cameron insists that his Government will extend the childcare ‘free offer’ to 30 hours a week, 38 weeks…
Welcome to the London Ofsted Big Conversation; A Meeting with Three Wise Inspectors on 24th June 2015
We met in the London NatWest Head Office in Little Argyle Street on a warm day. Like all OBC we had some regulars and some new people but the mix…
Welcome to the House of Fun
Last week I met colleagues from the EarlyArts and www.telltalehearts.co.uk. It’s always fun to explore elements of good practice with lively people and we…
Nets, Networks and Networking to Create Collective Impact
This week I visited the West Country to speak to a group of people working or interested in working in social enterprise. I really wanted to have a day at…
A Shout Out for the Childcare Apprentices during National Apprenticeship Week
This National Apprenticeship Week it is time to celebrate the joy and enthusiasm good apprentices bring into an organisation. I have been a supporter of trainees and…
Let’s Start the Year Together
When I first submitted this blog to Jenny, she read it and then sidled up to me and said, “I see your point but could you not start the year with…
There is Nothing as Practical as a Good Theory
This week we are hosting the launch of a book written by an ex LEYF staff member Mine Conkbayir and her co-writer Professor Chris Pascal CBE, who has been a…
Baby Look into My Eyes…
This week I attended the 5th Annual Baby Room Conference organised by Kathy Goouch and her team at Canterbury University. The keynote speaker Annette Karmilof- Smith reflected…